Teaching Experience
University Teaching Experience:
Associate
Professor,
Department of Literacy Education, Plattsburgh State University of New York, Plattsburgh,
NY.
August
2000-present
Chair of the Department of Literacy Education, August 2001-present
Teach
undergraduate courses (including “Basic Reading Instruction” and “Teaching
Culturally Responsive Language Arts”) and graduate courses (including “Reading,
Literature and the Young Adult” and “Introduction to the Teaching of Reading”)
for preservice and inservice teachers.
Assistant
Professor, National College of Education, National-Louis University,
Evanston, Illinois.
September 1996-June
2000
Teach
cohort groups of pre-K to 12th
grade teachers in the Field-based M.Ed. Program in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Groups meet weekly for two years with a strong emphasis on teacher
research as well as an ongoing focus on curriculum theory, multiculturalism,
technology, literacy, and human development.
Also teach the undergraduate course “Methods for Teaching Reading and
Language Arts” (winter 1999), the graduate level “Survey of Reading Methods
and Materials” (summer 1999, summer 2000), and the course “Graduate
Research: Interpretive/Critical” for Master of Arts in Teaching students (fall
1998, spring 1999, and spring 2000).
Instructor,
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
Teach a
graduate-level course, “Integrated Reading and Writing Instruction,” in the
M.Ed. program (summer 1991 and summer 1994).
Instructor,
Concordia Teachers’ College, River Forest, Illinois
Teach an undergraduate course, “Speech Communication” (fall 1981).
Additional
Teaching Experience
Reading
Specialist, grades K-5, Winnetka Public School District 36,
Illinois
(Hubbard
Woods School, August 1990-June 1992; Greeley
School, August 1992-June 1996)
Diagnose
needs and provide direct service for children at many grade levels, both within
and outside of classrooms; cooperate with the faculty to teach word study and
written expression, and to facilitate literature circle discussions and writing
for real purposes; provide math and social studies support through integrated
units; promote school-wide activities for students (such as the Young Authors’
Program) and for teachers (such as workshops on informal reading inventories)
related to literacy development and authentic assessment.
French Instructor, grades 4-5, District 36 Foreign Language Program,
Winnetka
(October
1991-May 1992)
Teach
extracurricular courses in basic French, four days per week.
History Instructor, grades 7-8, Chicago Historical Society & Junior
History Fair
(1982,
1983, 1984, 1986, and 1987 school years)
Design and
teach courses (“Chicago History and Museum Studies,” and “Research in
Social Studies”) for students from various Chicago Public Schools who attended
weekly from 1:00 to 3:00 throughout the school year as part of the district's
gifted program.
Head Teacher, Andersen Preschool, Parks and Recreation, Oak Park,
Illinois
(September
1981-May 1982)
Design
curriculum, conduct classes, plan outings, supervise staff, recruit parent
volunteers.
Drama Aide, grades 6-12, Stantonbury Campus Modern Comprehensive School,
Milton
Keynes, Great Britain (January-June
1979)
Assist in
educational drama courses at a large school one-hour north of London.
Education
Related
Employment
Director
of Education, Third Unitarian Church of Chicago
(October
1988-December 1989)
Select
curricular materials, recruit and supervise volunteer teachers, manage the
budget.
Program
Director, Junior History Fair, Newberry Library, Chicago (October
1985-September 1988)
Direct a
three-year Joyce Foundation grant project ($120,000) aimed at establishing a
6th-8th grade history instruction program as an extension of the Chicago Metro
History Fair; coordinate an annual, non-competitive citywide exposition of
exhibits, essays, and performances created by students on a wide variety of
self-selected topics; manage the budget; supervise staff; maintain contact
with over one hundred public and private schools; work with an advisory
committee; conduct workshops for teachers and students.
Teacher Services Coordinator, Department of
Museum Education, Chicago Historical Society
(July 1982-September 1985)
Design
educational materials and activities for school and family groups to use
before, during, and after visiting the museum; facilitate workshops for
teachers, students, and the general public; portray historic characters in
costume; develop materials for the handicapped; produce youth-oriented
exhibits.
Director of Education, The Peace Museum,
Chicago
(November
1981-June 1982)
Establish the
volunteer program, develop educational materials, conduct a citywide
essay/poster contest.
Trip Leader, Crossroads/Interlocken,
Hillsboro, New Hampshire
(summer 1978
in Appalachia and summer 1979 in France)
Conduct
month-long camping and home-visit excursions for teenagers in an experiential
education program.
This site is maintained by
Robert Ackland.
For further information, contact
him at
robert.ackland@plattsburgh.edu
